A conserved idiotype and antibodies to retroviral proteins in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Abstract

22 of 61 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients produced antibodies to the p24 gag protein of HIV-1 demonstrated by Western blotting. 20 of these 22 patients (91%) also express the 4B4 idiotype (Id 4B4) previously identified on a human anti-Sm monoclonal antibody called 4B4. This represents an enrichment for this Id (seen in only 52% of SLE patients generally). Eight of these 22 SLE patients also have anti-Sm antibody activity. Sm partially inhibits the antibody binding of p24 gag suggesting immunologic cross-reactivity between the retroviral antigen p24 gag and the autoantigen Sm. Anti-Id 4B4 also inhibits p24 gag antibody binding by as much as 40%. Finally the monoclonal antibody 4B4 showed cross-reactivity to Sm and p24 gag.The following points emerge from our studies: (a) SLE patients make antibodies to p24 gag of HIV-1, (b) there is a relationship between immunity to p24 gag and a conserved idiotype, and (c) anti-Sm antibodies can cross-react with p24

Frequency, Causes, and New Challenges of Indeterminate Results in Western Blot Confirmatory Testing for Antibodies to Human Immunodeficiency Virus

“…Separate studies had established correlation of WBi results with systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid factor, leprosy, post-measles virus infection, elevated bilirubin, polyclonal gammopathies, and hemodialysis (88,89,90,98). However, a study by Urnovitz et al (96) showed that, in addition to autoimmune diseases, malignancies, urologic disorders, sexually transmitted diseases, and multiple blood transfusions could also be responsible for the occurrence of WBi results.…”

False-Positive Human Immunodeficiency Virus Antibody Test and Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia in a Patient with Angioimmunoblastic T-Cell Lymphoma

“…In our case, by contrast, cross-reaction with HIV was detected using a particle agglutination assay; Western blotting showed no such cross-reaction. In one study, antibodies reactive with HIV p24 were detected in 22 of 66 patients with SLE (8). The investigators speculated that the mechanism of the reactivity with HIV p24 was antigenic mimicry between self-epitopes, such as small ribonucleoproteins (so-called Sm) or retroviral antigens.…”

“…The clinical course is aggressive, with a median survival of less than three years, largely owing to associated immune dysregulation with opportunistic infection (2). The characteristic clinical features of AITL are widely believed to be related to an abnormal pattern of cytokine expression by neoplastic T cells and various non-neoplastic cells (7,8). Although AITL accompanies autoimmune disease or hypergammaglobulinemia, there are a few reports on the complication of false-positive HIV antibody test in AITL.…”

Human RNA “Rumor” Viruses: the Search for Novel Human Retroviruses in Chronic Disease

“…Antibodies reactive with HIV or HTLV Gag (CA, p24) are common in patients with autoimmune diseases such as MS, SS, and SLE (369,407,477,478). In general, anti-Env antibodies are not present in these individuals, although sera from patients with mixed connective tissue disease are reported to contain neutralizing antibodies that block HIV infection (127).…”